It’s great to see some surprising results in the tin litho segment. US Metal Toy recycled this graphic from several smaller form factor noisemakers they had produced. They s t r e t c h e d the graphic to “fit” the larger form factor called for with a tambourine, resulting in an item that isn’t too interesting. The stretching resulted in a 6” tambourine without a fixed appearance. (To see what I mean, check out page 216.) I think this was a short-lived product, produced in the early 1960s, accounting for its rarity today.
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RARE Vintage Halloween Candy Container Grinning Cat on Pumpkin German Pre-War
The buyer of this fantastic candy container came by yesterday to show it to me. I think the seller’s photos, which didn’t accent the playful bee on the side of the cat or show the candy container in its best light, caused the price to descend to bargain territory. Frankly, the paint and detailing are top-notch. The size of the item is perfect and it is a wholly pleasing item overall. The price should have easily crested $1,000. A take-away here is critically look at the photos. If you feel details are left out or there can be better photos provided, ask for more.
Vintage Halloween Scarecrow Celluloid Viscoloid
Celluloid, especially those items produced by Viscoloid, have enjoyed a strong run-up in value over these last few years. (In fact, few vintage Halloween market segments have been spared the concerning run-up in value. As long stated, I worry about the hobby becoming the near-exclusive playground of the deep-pocketed.) This nice scarecrow suffers from a stomach ailment that any competent restorer can remedy with a little suction cup. I’d pay more attention to the sellers - two of the most knowledgeable (and generous with their knowledge) and fair-minded collectors I have the absolute pleasure to know. Be smart - add this seller to your list and watch what they offer. You will never go wrong with them.
09/19 Update: This sold for the relative bargain price of $197.50.
Very Rare VTG BEISTLE Orange SPIDER WEB Cobweb HALLOWEEN DIECUT 12X12" VTG 1950s
So, as this fine seller makes quite clear, the spider is missing. You can see the attachment area in the middle-lower-right section. Beistle produced this set for three short seasons during the 1950s. Ultimately, I think they were unsuccessful because of what you see here - the attachment goes missing. As I point out on page 158, given the extra labor involved to attach something to a flat paper surface and the very real prospect of that attachment getting bent up or falling off, I feel Beistle personnel threw up their hands and said, “Uncle!”
Vintage Halloween German JOL Pumpkin Ghost Paper Mache Candy Container GERMANY
I don’t feel this is a vintage item. Without the benefit of personal examination I can’t be sure, but nothing seems right about this item. I’ve never seen the JOL face. All of the ones I’ve seen have a ghost face that can be seen on page 62. The wear patterns seem off. The bottom opening is too small. Remember these items were attached to feet on a round wood base via a spring. The point would be to have them “dance” when tapped, so the opening at the bottom was all the way to the hem, not simply a rough hole like this one possesses.
Vintage Halloween Beistle Witch Near Mint 1950’s Large 18"
I’d say that when you look at the totality of Beistle’s Halloween output during the late 1950s, there are few stand-out items. Their creative gas tank was nearly on E. The trio of oddly captivating witches that this diecut belongs to is the definite exception to the lethargy Beistle brought to the marketplace back then. All are large, printed on slightly thinner stock and have irregular borders. (All can be seen on page 159.) Any of the trio is frustratingly difficult to find in near-mint or better condition. It took me nearly 30 years to get such examples, so these in that condition surface rarely. If you love quirky Beistle designs, don’t let this diecut escape. This fine seller has one more from the trio listed at this time, too.
Vintage Halloween German Diecut Diadem Tiara GERMANY JOL Pumpkin Girl Black Cats
Plenty of nice items are popping up on eBay now - not surprising given the time of the year. This tiara diecut is one of twelve designs, all of which can be seen on page 188. All are hard to find in collectible condition, but this one seems to surface less than some others. There was a brief blip up on the selling price of these tiaras about 18 months ago, driven mainly by one buyer, but since then the market has settled down. Most of these sell in the $700-1000 range at this time, but this is a quirky time of year so who really knows?
09/11 Update: This sold for a modest $597. Given what I have written above, I think the era of big dollars for these tiaras is over, at least for now.
Rare Vintage Halloween Dennison Witch Diecut "Eats"
Dennison diecuts from this time period, 1928-1932, are exceedingly hard-to-find in collectible condition. Even this one with its flaws has already garnered bids to $787 with 5 days to go! Dennison adopted a very specific design aesthetic during these years that differentiated their printed paper wares from all other major competitors. As the Halloween season of 1929 was wrapping up the stock market crashed. Within a year the icy tendrils of the Great Depression were crushing the vitality out of the general US economy. Dennison wasn’t spared. The overall number of their designs, and the number of each design made, atrophied. The general population was more concerned about buying food than decorations. So, at this remove of ~90 years, Dennison Halloween products from this time period are rarely seen but avidly pursued. This particularly charming non-embossed diecut first appeared in their 1930 Price List pamphlet.
08/31 Update: This ended up selling for the long-time high bid of $787, a strong price.
SUPER RARE Vintage Halloween Mask Hat w/ Crepe Paper Beistle Prototype? 20s-30s!
Since I have a trimmed one of these in the collection, I called the seller this morning to convey that it was not a prototype not meant to be sold, but an item produced and distributed by Beistle - very much meant to be sold. I acquired my lesser example 6-7 years ago when I purchased a box from a seller in the Midwest. Everything in the box was from a party some relative threw in 1923. Therefore, I think it reasonable to assume this creation was sold that year, too. I suspect that it didn’t sell well, causing Beistle to but the brakes on such designs. (Beistle was a well-managed company with responsive management acutely attuned to market trends. From my familiarity with their business practices honed through my 33 years of avid collecting, I know Beistle seldom lost much time in acknowledging market missteps.) They tinkered with the overall design until they hit upon a better one, a more easily worn one, known today as Domino masks. These were sold from 1926-1931. Examples can be seen on pages 236-237. In short, this is a rarity - and in better shape than the only other one I’ve ever seen.
Vintage Halloween rare 1930's German paper pumpkins
Sadly, this lot of fantasy items has already been bid up to far more than they are valued today. All except one were made during or after 1995 and have very modest decorative value only. (The JOL at the center bottom is probably truly vintage.) Bottom line - several are pleasant to look at, but they aren’t truly vintage.
4 Unused Tally Cards w/ Tassels Owl on Moon with JOL, Vintage Halloween c.1930’s
These tallies were produced by Hallmark, almost certainly in the late 1920s. Hallmark small paper has escalated rapidly in price over these last three years - and deservedly so. The cleverness of their designs and brilliant use of color make them poppers in a display case. That said, the ending price at $215 each, seems excessive.
Vintage Dennisons Halloween Seals Green and Red Leaves In Box 1920s
Dennison hit a few home runs in their seal designs produced from the early teens through the early 30s. (Admittedly, there were a few singles, doubles and triples - and sadly, a very few strikeouts, too!) This “triple” design first appeared in 1928. They contain an assortment of two, not necessarily evenly balanced between the two designs. (Things weren’t as precise back then.) The fact that this example has nine of one and eleven of the other is perfectly fine. I expect this listing to fetch significantly more than the current level of $146.50. If you’re a Dennison boxed set collector, you cannot let this slip away.
RARE VINTAGE HALLOWEEN EMBOSSED JOL WITH HANDS AND FEET 12" GERMANY TABLE DECOR
Great stuff is slowly showing up on eBay. Given that this has over 4 days to go, collectors haven’t had trouble finding this listing as the bidding has already reached $2,325. I’ve only seen this diecut twice before seeing this listing, and haven’t had a chance to add it to the collection yet. This example is in the best condition of the three total. These exceedingly rare German diecuts were all produced around 1935 and sent to Canada exclusively.
08/22 Update: This sold for $6699.99, a price level well above what I would have thought reasonable. I received an email from another long-time collector who made a point that resonated with me. She said that prices being what they are today…”I would not ever be able to accumulate very much. And would have a hard time having real love for all those things that cost so much, now. When they cost a pittance, there was such a warmth for them.”
Beistle Fairy Honeycomb band hat, Vintage Halloween Party Hat 1923 6"H x 11.5"W
These band hats surface so rarely that I sat up and took notice when I saw this listing. Beistle produced a small set of fairy hat designs during their fairy mania phase in 1923. Each is playful and whimsical while also subtly including hints of menace. It will be fun to see what this fetches. It has been years since one of this quality has become available.
08/24 Update: This sold for the wild price of $875.
Vintage Halloween Beistle Die Cut 1920’s Witch Over Moon
Beistle sold this non-embossed diecut, a smaller otherwise identical diecut and both small and large non-embossed diecuts of an electrified cat in large envelopes during the early 1920s. Characteristic of so much of Beistle’s early output, the envelope is nearly as good as the contents. It is this kind of rigorous attention to detail that causes so many of us to avidly collect anything Beistle produced prior to 1935.
Given the condition of this diecut, so fully described by the seller, I wouldn’t have expected the price to have exceeded $90-100.